The Falcon 9 efficiently lifted off at 8:28 p.m. ET final night time, sending Cargo Dragon on its approach to the Worldwide Area Station.
This was the sixth and remaining Dragon flight of 2023, with 3 of these being Crewed launches and the opposite two resupply missions. This Cargo Dragon is now taking part in catch as much as the Area Station and can start its method to the outpost at 3:45 a.m. ET.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/iQ8DH6XoU8
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 10, 2023
As soon as docked to the Area Station, the crew will open the hatches and start eradicating the provides and experiments inside and over the course of the subsequent month, filling it with completed experiments and different pointless gadgets to be returned to Earth.
Falcon 9 Booster 1081 accomplished its 2nd flight and, after separating from the 2nd stage, created a fantastic “Falcon Nebula” within the sky because the Merlin 1D and Merlin Vacuum engine plumes interacted, inflicting the gases to glow within the higher environment. The primary stage then made a profitable touchdown again at LZ-1, sending sonic booms across the Area Coast.
This was the ninth mission within the present Section 2 Industrial Resupply Providers that was awarded to SpaceX, and as of writing, there are six extra Cargo Dragon flights scheduled between 2024 and 2026.
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed at LZ-1 at Cape Canaveral Area Power Station pic.twitter.com/mZdAvImchu
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 10, 2023
SpaceX is at present the one American launch supplier with the power to ship provides or Crew, for that matter, to the Worldwide Area Station. Northrop Grumman not too long ago retired its Antares rocket and might be launching its subsequent Cygnus resupply automobile on the Falcon 9 subsequent 12 months. United Launch Alliance doesn’t have any Atlas V rockets obtainable as their manifest is already assigned forward of its retirement and eventual swap to the brand new Vulcan rocket that might be launching the Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser automobile.
SpaceX has two extra launches this weekend, one from California and one from Florida, fairly a continuous tempo!
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